First detection and molecular characterization of Alistipes onderdonkii in ruminants

Alistipes onderdonkii (A. onderdonkii) is a newly characterised species of bacteria that has been extensively studied in humans as a part of the normal gut microbiota; its role in gastrointestinal diseases and some types of cancer is under debate. In this study A. onderdonkii is detected in animal stools using PCR and sequencing of the PCR products. A total of 146 faecal samples from ruminants, precisely 32 domestic sheep (Ovis aries), 10 domestic and 34 free-ranging goats (Capra hircus) and 70 wild mouflons (Ovis gmelini ophion) were examined, and 2 of them were positive for A. ondendonkii (2/146=1.4 %), both belonging to goats (2/44=4.5 %), one belonging to a domestic goat and the second belonging to a free-ranging goat. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. onderdonkii in ruminants. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of A. onderdonkii in domestic and wild small ruminants in Cyprus. More research is required to elucidate the role of A. onderdonkii in animal health.